Wrestling Preview: Northern Burlington County High aims for more champions

MANSFIELD — What would be more impressive for a high school wrestling program?

Being mentioned in the same breath as South Plainfield, Toms River South, Bergen Catholic and Don Bosco Prep?

Or, saying Jackson Memorial, Seton Hall Prep, Hanover Park and Phillipsburg can’t be discussed in the same sentence as you?

For Northern Burlington, it’s pretty much the best of both worlds.

The Greyhounds have had NJSIAA champions each of the past two seasons — 152-pounder Wayne Stinson in 2013 and 285-pounder Cody Melton in 2012 — placing them in some select company with the powerhouses north and east of Burlington County. It’s also a trick some of the most revered programs in New Jersey haven’t been able to accomplish the past two winters.

Northern Burlington may be one of the best, good programs nobody in New Jersey knows about. This year, 55 wrestlers deep, head coach Jule Dolci and the Greyhounds hope to make a little noise as a team, too, by winning their division, district, county and section on their to-do list.

“That’s our goal every year,” Dolci said. “That never changes.”

But when it comes to the individual championships, can three be the charm for Dolci and Northern Burlington?

“It was hard enough just getting one,” Dolci said during practice Wednesday. “Then it was two, and three will be even tougher.

Ryan Moshman, background, is a senior for West Windsor-Plainsboro South High.Beverly Schaefer/For The Times

“But,” Dolci, a 1995 NBC grad, paused before adding, “we have a couple kids in the room working toward that, and they know it’s a possibility now.”

Unlike the majority of wrestling programs across New Jersey, Northern Burlington has living, breathing proof a state championship can be won in its wrestling room — times two.

“And Wayne and Cody come back and work with the younger kids, and that’s huge for our program,” Dolci said.

On the Northern Burlington Wrestling Wall of Fame, gold stars are tattooed next to three names under the state placewinners category: Stinston, Melton and Andy Zuckerman in 1977 — all state champions.

“I look at those stars every day,” said sophomore 106-pounder Anthony Foggia. “I’d like one of those next to my name one day.”

“It’s a great room, a great school and has great academics,” added freshman 152-pounder Freddie Miller, one of Northern’s touted young wrestlers.

And because of its proven track record, Dolci will stick with the formula that worked for Stinson and Melton. Northern Burlington will wrestle Saturday and Sunday at the Beast of the East Tournament in Delaware, featuring some of the premier wrestlers in America.

“It’s easy to go find chumps, beat them up and hand out high-fives for being 25-0 and having everyone in school think you’re real good,” Dolci said. “It’s different to win 20 matches when your schedule includes some of the best teams in South Jersey and some of the best kids in the nation.

“Cody losing in December at the Beast was a key to him winning a state title in March. Losing makes you hungry. Because the Beast is so early, it makes you start getting ready in the fall, because New Jersey is at a disadvantage at the Beast. Our guys will see kids from other states who have 10 or 12 matches already, and for us it’s the first weekend.”

The Northern Burlington wrestlers return from Delaware with an idea how far they need to go as the season progresses. It also strips the invincibility factor from opponents they will see in January, February and March.

Justin McTamney, right, is a senior for Bordentown High.Mary Iuvone/For The Times

“You go against the best,” Dolci said. “We want to see the best kids off the bat. If you’ve seen the best kid you’re going to see all season in December, it puts the rest of the season in perspective.

“Before we started going to the Beast, kids from Blair and big-time programs in Pennsylvania and Virginia were like ghosts ... you never saw them. Now we do. When you’ve wrestled someone at an elite level, you know what it takes to get there yourself ... then you decide if you want to make that effort or not.”

“It helps you know where you stand,” said sophomore 113-pounder Vincent Foggia, who Dolci said is more focused and intense than both Stinson and Melton were. “I want to see how close I am to being among the nation’s best.”

When they return to New Jersey, the Greyhounds will focus their attention on the Collingswood Tournament on Dec. 28, and then to the dual-meet season, which features clashes with county rival Cherokee on Jan. 6, a quad on the road with Clearview, St. Augustine and Shawnee on Jan. 18, and a match against Rancocas Valley in late January.

“The one thing Cody and Wayne never did was look ahead,” Dolci said. “After the Beast, we will look at Collingswood and then see where the rest of the season takes us.

“Funny thing is, I don’t think you put your mind to being a state champ,” he said. “I think you put your mind to winning that next match and then getting to Atlantic City.”

Leg by the Foggia brothers, Dolci said his lower weights will be like “tanks.”

He calls this year’s lineup better than the one that reached the sectional semifinals last season.

“Much more balanced,” Dolci said of this year’s lineup. “We tell our kids if you work to get better every day, the individual stuff will come.”

And he can back it up with on-paper results and a growing list of names on the wall.
“We have five-year old kids leaving this room saying they want their name on that wall,” Dolci said. “That’s the great thing about our program right now.”

Jack Mottram, top, is a senior for Allentown High.Martin Griff/The Times

LAWRENCE
Head coach: Chris Lynne.Record last year: 9-12.Tournaments: At East Brunswick Invitational (Dec. 30).Projected lineup: Jordan Stevens (Fr./106); D’Andre Moore (So./113); Milosz Kazimirowicz (Jr./113); Edwin Gonzalez (So./120); Uriel Acevedo (Sr./126); Gavin Schenck (Sr./132); Gordon Wolf (Sr./138); Mike Jennings (Sr./145); Georgy Jochiem (Sr./152); Omar Mehmood (Sr./160); Zamil Zaner (Sr./170); Sawad Yousufzai (Jr./195); Connor Hoffman (Sr./195); Jordan Fleming (Sr./220); John-Malik Thomas (Sr./HWT).Postseason contenders: Wolf, Jennings.Team strength: Senior-laden team with plenty of experience.Team weakness: Depth, some lineup holes.Team goal: Qualify for postseason.Notes: Is his 28th season as head coach, Lynne has 245 victories. Wolf is 93-13 in his career and is looking for his fourth district and Mercer County title and has finished second in Region 7 twice. Wolf was fifth in the state last year at 132. Jennings, who is 88-15 in his career, will try for his fourth Mercer County title and his first district title after placing second three times.

HOPEWELL VALLEY
Head coach: Mario Harpel.Record last year: 19-2.Tournaments: At Christian Brothers Academy Colt Classic (Dec. 21); At East Brunswick Invitational (Dec. 30).Projected lineup: Ryan Butcavage (Fr./106); Connor Murphy (So./113); Austin Roskos (So./120); Mark Gerstacker (Jr./126); Connor Rittley (Sr./132); Bill Godfrey (So./132); Dean Clarke (Sr./138); Owen Clarke (Jr./145); Sean Kent (Sr./152); John Godfrey (Jr./160); Trevor Roberto (Sr./160); Kevin Thompson (Sr./170); Chris DeClerico (So./182); Evan Carlton (Sr./182); Ward Taggart (Sr./195); Will Ortman (Fr./195); Mike Markulec (Sr./220); Pat Rojvall (Jr./HWT).Postseason contenders: Markulec, S. Kent, Carlton, Roskos, D. Clarke, Gerstacker.Team strength: Work ethic, experience, balance.Team weakness: Youthful in some weight classes, may not be down to weight until after Jan. 1.Team goals: Win sixth county team title in last seven years; make a run at a Central Jersey Group III title; win district team title.Notes: The class of Mercer County, Hopewell Valley will have a different look in January, after wrestlers settle into their weight classes after passing hydration tests. Markulec was 48-3 last season and wrestled all year with a broken wrist. After a fifth-place finish in the states, the Princeton University-bound Markulec is unquestionably a state-championship contender. In addition, Sean Kent had 28 wins last season, Mark Gerstacker had 25, Dean Clarke 23, Owen Clarke 20 and Roskos 18. The Bulldogs open tonight against a Delaware Valley team looking for redemption after Hopewell’s 40-16 win last season. Should be a sectional contender with Ocean Township, Brick Township and Northern Burlington.

Nick Bossie, bottom, is a senior wrestler for Robbinsville High.Martin Griff/The Times

MONTGOMERY
Head coach: Kurt Franey.Record last year: 12-13.Tournaments: At Garden State Classic at Princeton (Dec. 21); At East Brunswick (Dec. 30).Projected lineup: Terrence Rohmeyer (106); Jacob Frisch (113); August Rohmeyer (120); Josh Isaacs (138); Anthony Cassar (195).Postseason contender: Cassar.Team strength: Cohesiveness, work ethic.Team weakness: Inexperience.Notes: A young team in a powerful conference means a big-time learning experience for the Cougars. Cassar was 34-4 last year and according to Franey improved “immensely” on his feet.